Think of Blackburn and you generally visualise the crumbling remains of the industrial revolution in North East Lancashire - or possibly Ewood Park and the on-off Premiership successes of Blackburn Rovers FC. Certainly precious little springs to mind in terms of great rock'n'roll with most of the North-West's great musical heritage hailing from the twin neighbouring colossi of Manchester and Liverpool. However, energetic and convincingly heavy local groovesters THE 'BURN are odds on to change all that. TIM PEACOCK caught up with drummer LEE WALSH to discuss the making of the band's debut album, hanging out with the stars and the story behind the mysterious "Sally O'Mattress."
On the face of it, THE 'BURN appear to be a classic example of local boys made good overnight, as they've signed an impressive deal with Hut Records after catching the attention of one Damon Gough, AKA BADLY DRAWN BOY. However, the band have actually been working hard for the past two years, starting out by rehearsing in the back room of a girlfriend's hairdressers, no less. Lee, how did you cope with the rollercoaster moving so quickly and what's Damon Gough really like?
"Yeah, well we're dead into everything that's happening," enthuses Lee, obviously mainlining on the excitement.
"We got to know Damon more by association, but he saw us play at the Night and Day in Manchester and offered us the use of his studio in Manchester."
"From there it moved really quickly," he continues.
"We recorded four tracks with the Twisted Nerve (label) people and we were lucky that Dave Boyd (Hut boss) got to hear them. Hut were the first label to get after us and they signed us up straight off. We were delighted obviously...I mean, what an amazing roster! We're on the same label as Richard Ashcroft. I can still hardly believe that!"
Lee may sound like he's got stars in his eyes, but one listen to THE 'BURN'S debut album "Sally O'Mattress" makes it clear that the young quintet have a fine pedigree and knuckled down to the disciplined process of making their debut a record to remember. They made the album with veteran producer Hugh Jones: a man with a reputation for being a hard taskmaster who's nonetheless brought out the best from everyone from THE SOUND to DODGY and SHACK. What difference did he make?
"He was very important, " notes Lee.
"He spent two weeks with us before we went into the studio, changing and honing the arrangements. He's a proper workhorse, that's true. He made us work 12 noon to 5AM every day, he really works 24/7 and smokes about 200 fags and buzzes off coffee (laughs)."
"He's strict, yeah, but you respond to him and he gets really good results, so we can't complain."
You recorded the album at Chapel Studios, Lincolnshire. FULC told me about their escapades down there. I take it you took advantage of the residential aspect?
"Yeah, it's great because it's really secluded," remembers Lee.
"There's a pub 100 yards away from the studio, though(laughs). Apart from that, it's like this huge country house. It was brilliant for creativity. In fact we've got most of the second album nailed already 'cos we got into writing new songs while we were loving there over the two month spell."
I can't wait any longer, Lee: where does that bizarre album title come from?
"Yeah, right," Lee laughs, "well, we have a track called "Sunstroke" - it's not on the album and we traditionally do it as the last song live. It's this really long, mad psychedelic thing and part of it is named after Sally O'Mattress..."
So she really exists?
"Oh yeah," chirps Lee. "She's a woman who...how can I put this? ...she helped everyone in the band grow up, if you take my meaning. She helped with our education..."
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Ah...I think I see where you're coming from here. OK. Let's change tack a little. What tracks on the album are you especially proud of?
"Without wanting to sound cliched, we're truly all 100% happy with it," Lee replies baldly.
"It's exceeded all our expectations and it's great because it's really a record that captures what we're about. If I had to cherry pick favourites, though...well, "Steel Kneel" (meaty, drum-heavy live favourite) because I sing on it! Also, "Calling All" (anthemic LP opener), "The Cove" (closing instrumental) and definitely "Enlightening", with the 21-piece orchestra."
Is there a story behind the new single "Drunken Fool" at all, or is it more about a composite character?
"It's a story anyone can relate to," muses Lee.
"Ironically, it;s one of our oldest songs, written even before I joined the band. Actually, it was the one that made me WANT to join the band. Origianally it was gonna be relegated to a B-side, but the record company said it wasa good omen to put the song that got us signed on the album, so we ended up pushing for it to be the single as well."
Certainly with the likes of bands like THE MUSIC coming through, the time seems right for a band from the loud, groove-heavy North-Brit sound purveyed by THE 'BURN. What does Lee think about the re-appearance of guitars in the charts?
"It's definitely on the up," he agrees.
"There's been a void for a while, except for Oasis of course, but it's on an upswing now with the likes of The Coral and The Music coming through. It's much more positive."
Talking of which, the past twelve monts or so must have been something of a blur for THE 'BURN as you've been gigging constantly, opening for the likes of Oasis, Ian Brown and Paul Weller. What did you learn from this high-profile experience, Lee?
"We've grown so much as a live band," says Lee gravely. "I mean you must remember we were only a band for about 12 months before all this activity started and we've had to mature in public. We've definitely been able to rise to the challenge, though. I mean, how can you NOT learn opening for Paul Weller, doing acoustic songs at the Royal Albert Hall."
Finally,who - of all your benefactors treated you the best?
"Paul (Weller) was great," Lee fires back.
"Fantastic. We were both doin' acoustic gigs and he was always coming in to chat to us. No attitude at all, he treated us amazingly well. And Ian Brown...he's just so incredible...Listen to "Steel Kneel": that's Goldfinger (Ian Brown collaborator) on vibes on that track. That' s a big deal for me 'cos I sing on it and I'm a huge Stone Roses fan, so to have worked on it with one of Ian's associates is just mind-blowing. Those kind of things are just the biggest dreams come true. That's why we got into music, really."
And that's just the way it should be, isn't it, folks?
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